Hair clip



Dec. 24, 1968. R. KULNIS ETAL HAIR CLIP Filed March 11, 1965 Robert Ku/rfi Edward Isaac BY fQm ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice 3,417,761 Patented Dec. 24, 1968 3,417,761 HAIR CLIP Robert Kninis, 522 Denver Ave., and Edward Isaac, 928 Warren Ave., both of New Castle, Pa. 16101 Filed Mar. 11, 1965, Ser. No. 438,913 8 Claims. (Cl. 132-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An improved hair clip which can easily be digitally operated to engage and retain a curl of hair. The clip comprises a generally Y-shaped unitary resilient member having spaced parallel upper and lower central and branch legs. When the diverged ends of the branch legs are digitally squeezed toward one another the upper and lower central and branch legs will relatively separate to receive a curl of hair between them.

This invention relates to a hair clip and more particularly it relates to an improved form of clip structure wherein a unitary clip can be digitally operated to engage and retain a curl of hair.

As is well known, various forms of hair fastening devices have been commercially available for many years. These hair fastening devices have been widely used by women for forming curls of hair which are often referred to as pin curls. Probably the best known of these prior art forms of hair fastening devices is the conventional bobby-pin, a device having a pair of interconnected elongated parallel arms, one of which is provided with a series of hair gripping undulations. Generally, two or more of these bobby-pins are needed to form a single curl of hair, with such bobby-pins being angularly disposed to one another to hold the curl in place.

The major problem associated with the use of such conventional bobby-pins to retain a hair curl in place, is the fact that it is an extremely cumbersome and difficult operation to open or separate the parallel arms of the bobby-pin to insert the curl of hair therebetwen. While, in any event, it is difiicult to separate the resilient arms of a bobby-pin by insertion of a fingernail therebetween, this operation is complicated still further by the fact that, during the normal hair setting procedure, only one hand is free to open the bobby-pin, the other hand being utilized to hold the curl in place.

While the disadvantages of the bobby-pin as a hair clip are apparent and have been known for sometime, previous attempts to overcome these disadvantages have not been successful, either because the proposed device -.vas too expensive, or because the proposed device was itself of a complicated and cumbersome nature. Naturally, the primary feature of concern in relation to a hair clip is its cost, and bobby-pins have retained their popularity because of their extremely low cost. Past attempts to improve upon the bobby-pin have generally produced an item which is so disproportionate in cost to the bobby-pin, that such item could not even be competitive with the bobby-pin.

With the foregoing matter in mind, it is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome the difficulties and deficiencies asociated with prior art forms of hair clips, and to provide in their stead, an improved clip for holding a curl of hair.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair clip which can be digitally operated to readily open for receiving a curl of hair, and which will quickly close to engage the curl of hair.

Further objects of the present invention include the provision of a hair clip which (a) is extremely inexpensive,

yet can accomplish its desired function; (b) can be digitally operated with only one hand; (c) is capable of performing its function for extended durations of time without experiencing breakage or deformation; ((1) can firmly hold a curl of hair in an improved and enhanced manner; and, (e) is formed as a unitary, one-piece structure, thereby lending itself to mass-production techniques.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a hair clip in accordance with the principles of the present invention, with such clip being shown in its normal condition;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the hair clip of FIGURE 1, with such hair clip being moved from its normal to its open position; and,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the liair clip in engagement with a curl of hair.

Referring now to the drawings, the clip is generally designated 10. As is apparent by reference to the drawings, the clip is formed as a unitary or one-piece member which is, for reasons stated hereinafter, fabricated of a resilient material. Such resilient material is preferably a synthetic resin having a high degree of resiliency, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or some other suitable polyolefin. Alternatively, if desired, the clip 10 may be fabricated of thin spring steel or some other metal which can be readily collapsed, yet will resiliently and elastically recover its original shape.

The clip 10, as seen, has a generally Y-shaped configuration and is formed by interconnected congruent upper and lower portions. Thus, the clip is provided with spaced parallel upper and lower central legs, identified as 12 and 14, respectively. The upper central leg is provided with a forward end portion 12a and a rearward end portion 1212. Similarly, the lower central leg is provided with a forward end portion 14a and a rearward end portion 1412. Each of the central legs 12 and 14 is formed as a generally flat elongated member having a width at least equal to, and preferably somewhat greater than, its thickness. The forward end portion 12a of the upper central leg is canted upwardly and away from the corresponding portion 14a on the lower central leg, as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2. The purpose for this angular disposition of the upper central leg forward end portion is to facilitate insertion of a curl of hair into the clip, in a manner to be presently described. A plurality of teeth 16 in the form of rounded or curved protuberances, depend from the underside of the upper central leg 12 and are hence directed toward the upper surface of the lower central leg 14, as can best be seen in FIGURE 2.

A pair of upper branch legs 18, 18 diverge symmetrically outwardly from the rearward end portion 12b of the upper central leg 12. Similarly, a pair of lower branch legs 20, 20 diverge symmetrically outwardly from the rearward end portion 14b of the lower central leg 14, with each lower branch leg 20 being disposed directly beneath its corresponding upper branch leg 18. At the diverged ends of the upper and lower branch legs 18 and 20, an upper terminal portion 18a and a lower terminal portion 20a are provided. These terminal portions 18a, 20a are disposed angularly with respect to the remainder of the branch legs 18, 20, and these terminal portions are disposed substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the central legs 12, 14. A generally vertical web 22 extends between each upper terminal portion 18a and its lower terminal portion 20a. Thus, it can be seen that the upper portion of the clip is formed in the shape of a Y, the lower portion is similarly shaped as a Y disposed in spaced parallel disposition beneath the upper portion, and both such portions are interconnected to one another at their diverged ends by means of the web 22, 22. Teeth 16 are also provided on the under surface of each of the upper branch legs 18, 18, with such teeth having the same general shape and disposition as the teeth 16 on the underside of the central leg 12.

A slit 24 is provided in the upper central leg 12, extending from the rear end thereof and preferably terminating short of the first tooth 16. Similarly, a slit 26 extends from the rear end of the lower central leg 14 for approximately the same extent as the upper slit 24. Each of the slits 24, 26 is angularly disposed to the plane of the central legs, with the angle of such disposition being non-perpendicular. Also, the upper slit 24 is directed at an angle which is equal and opposite to that of the lower slit 26. In other words, each of the slits 24, 26 is cut on a bias. Thus, the opposite faces which define the upper slit 24 include an angularly disposed face 24a which faces downwardly toward the lower legs and a companion angularly disposed face 24b which faces upwardly away from the lower legs. Similarly, the lower slit has a downwardly angled face 26a and a companion upwardly angled face 26b. The face 24a terminates in a feather edge 24c which is disposed on the upper surface of the central leg 12. The face 24b terminates in a feather edge 24d which is disposed on the undersurface of the leg 12. On the lower slit, the face 26a terminates in a feather edge 26c disposed on the upper face of the leg 14, while the face 26b terminates in a feather edge 26d disposed on the lower face of the leg 14. The opposite angular disposition of the slits 24 and 26 will be apparent by reference to FIG- URE 2, wherein the thickness of the feather edge 24d and 26c has been exaggerated somewhat for purposes of illustration.

Having now described the construction of the clip 10 of the present invention, attention is directed to FIG- URE 3 for an understanding of its manner of use. The clip may be grasped between the users thumb and forefinger, shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 3, in engagement with the outer surfaces of the opposed terminal portions 18a, 20a. When squeezing pressure is applied to move these terminal portions toward one another or in the direction of the arrows X-X, the upper and lower portions separate relatively from one another in the direction of the arrows YY. In other words, when the branch legs of the clip are squeezed toward one another in a horizontal direction, the upper and lower legs move away from each other in a vertical direction. Such separation is accomplished by a minor deformation in the area of the slits 24, 26, with such deformation being accomplished by the upper feather edges 24c, 26c moving above and away from the lower feather edges 24d, 26d. After the legs have been so separated by digital squeezing pressure applied in the aforesaid manner, the open clip can easily he slipped over a curl of hair C, as shown in FIGURE 4. Then, when the digital squeezing pressure is released, the clip will elastically or resiliently recover its original formation, as shown in FIGURE 1, and a curl of hair will be tightly gripped and clamped between the teeth 16 and the upper face of the lower legs 14, 20. When it is again desired to release the clip 10 from the curl of hair C, it is only necessary to re-apply the digital squeezing at the ends of the branch legs, and the clip will thereupon re-open in the aforesaid manner and can thus be easily removed.

It should be apparent that the clip of the present invention can be easily and inexpensively fabricated by massproduction techniques, such as, for example, injection molding. Also, it can be seen from the foregoing that the clip of the present invention lends itself readily to a one-hand opening and closing operation, thereby leaving the users other hand free to form the curl of hair. Also, as is clearly shown in FIGURE 4, only one clip 10 need be utilized for any curl C of hair, and the one clip will firmly and precisely engage the curl of hair and maintain it in its desired curled configuration.

After reading the foregoing detailed description, it will be apparent that the objects set forth at the outset of the specification have been successfully achieved.

vWhat is claimed is:

1. A clip for retaining a curl of hair comprising a generally Y-shaped unitary resilient member having spaced parallel upper and lower central legs, each having a forward and a rearward end, a pair of upper branch legs diverging outwardly from said upper central leg rearward end, a pair of lower branch legs diverging outwardly from said lower central leg rearwardly end and hence being in spaced parallel disposition beneath said upper branch legs, said upper and lower branch legs being interconnected at their diverged ends by integral webs, said upper central and said upper branch legs having a plurality of teeth on their undersurface with such teeth thus being directed toward the respective lower central and lower branch legs, said upper and lower central legs each having a slit therein extending from their respective rearward ends toward their respective forward ends, said slits being in spaced alignment with each other, said clip being digitally engageable at said diverged branch leg ends whereby, when said diverged ends are digitally squeezed toward one'another, said upper and lower central and branch legs will relatively separate for reception of a curl of hair therebetween, said clip being elastically recoverable upon release of said digital squeezing to permit said upper and lower central and branch legs to move relatively toward each other to thus clamp said curl of hair therebetween.

2. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper central leg is canted upwardly at its forward end to facilitate insertion of a curl of hair into said clip.

3. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein the terminal portion of said branch legs at their diverged ends extends angularly to the remainder of said branch legs.

4. A clip as defined in claim 3 wherein said terminal portions extend substantially parallel to each other and to said central legs.

5. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said slits in said central legs are angularly disposed to the plane of said legs at a non-perpendicular angle.

6. A clip as defined in claim 5 wherein the angle of the slit in said upper central leg is directed oppositely to the angle of the slit in said lower central leg.

7. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said slits terminate rearwardly of said teeth.

8. A clip as defined in claim 1 wherein said teeth are curved protuberances.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1908 Gilbert 132--48 X 2/ 1936 Interrante 13252 US. Cl. X.R. 

